Electric crucible furnace



April 14,1925-, 1,533,265

` T. A-. REID l 1 ELECTRIC CRUQIBLE FURNACE FledJan, v, 1922 ATTORNEY Patented. 14, i925.

Unirsesf'ia'rssv yPar-ani carica] mairies A. 'Ruinen Winninsiauiie, riannsrrviinia, assicivoa fro Was'rinenonsn ELEQ'RIC &'MANUFACTURNG COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

- ELECTRIC -ciinfsiisnn lanimation.

. Application led .Tanuary 7, 192.2. ,Serial No'. 527,644..

To `all whom concern:

Be it known .that I, THOMAS Brun, a

citizen of the United States,A and are'sident of Willrinsburg, in the county of Allegheny 5. and State of Pennsylvania, have invented asistor support for an electric-resistance fur: l

llnace.,v l

` refractory heat-insulating'casing which may betiltably mounted and vvliichlias a substantially circular chamber locatedytlierein.

I' provide .a plurality of relatively thin re-V j fractory plates, o' arcuate form in lateral-v cross-section, located in .abutting relation to constitute a substantially cylindrical lining for the 'chamber lin: the refractory casing.

Eachof the .refractory- -plates is `provided with 'a plurality of relatively small, spaced-r apar-t, alined, integral projections on the con#v 'Vex surface, and a preformed resistor member is located in operative engagemententhe convex4 surface and is maintained inl proper operative position relativelythereto. by lthe alined integral projections.

In the single slieet of drawings, l' l 'Figure 1 is a top 'plan view of an electricresistor y furnace comprising adeviceein-ru -bodying my invention;

Figu2 is a view, in vertical cross-section,

of a furnace of the above designated type taken/entice line IIe-II oFig. 1'; ie

operatively associated therewith.'

A substantially cylindricalmetallic casing 11, provided Witli'a bottoinplate 12, hasv located therein anv outer lining 13 'of any suitable heat-insulating material. AAn inner lining 14 may comprise either `a plurality of bricks or blocks of .a suitable refractory The inner lining'14 is so vshaped'and disposed 'as to provide a cliaiiibe'r 15 therein which maybe substantially cylindrical in l form.

In, practising invention, l provide a' ralityo relatively thin relractory plates'l,

Figi'.A 3 is a View, in front elevation, of one of the refractory plates having a resistorv i' plurality'of standards or supports 16 are provided, having bearings 'at ktheir up- -per ends vin which short shafts 17 arelocated, the inner ends ofvvhich are suitably secured to tlie metallic casing 11. A pinion 18 issuitably-sccured to the outer end of one of the shafts 17 topermit of tilting the ento cause the molten material to be poured trom a crucible 19 located Within the chain- `ber 15. Thile 'l have-illustrated the member1 lilas a pinion, this may not be necessary,

A.particulai'ly in furnaces of relatively small size in Which a hand wheel may be employed.

WVithin the chamber are locatedia-pln'- of'arcuate form inlateral cross-section, and,

drawing, the arcuate extension may be subtire casing by tilting mechanism (not sliovvn)A stantially to permit of .the uselof four y such plates in ,abutting relation to constitute a reractoiylining 'for the chamber'il. A' .plurality of relatively small, spaced-apart,

alined integral projections 22 are provided on the outer or convex surface of -each of thev plates 21 and the relative dimensions 'of the plates 21 and of the chamber 15 are such that the' outer ends of 4the integral projec' tions 22 operatively engage the inner .face

`of thevvall of the chamber 15.

A preformed resistor member 23 may comprise a plurality of integral end-connected convolutions substantially las illustrated in Fig. 3 of thedravving, the adj acent convolu- 'tions of theresistor member being maingli tained in proper' operative positionsrelay tivelyv to each other by the alined projections.` |This tfype'of vrefractory plate and oi an associated `resistor is morev lparticularly 'described and claimed in alcope/nding appli# cation, Serial No. 149,685, filed by4 O.' A. Colby aiidmyself on March 5, .1921, and assigned tothe WestinghousegEle/ctrc t Manufacturing Company.`

`While the resistor member' 23, asv illustrata'.

led in Fig. 3,has integral 'convolutions extending over the external surface of only one of the refractory plates 21, l. may ein ploy a relatively longer rod or'bar 23 a ud mount the same in substantially the position illustrated in Fig. lout engagingall of the members 21 to the e'ect that only two ends 24 need be brought out to suitable terminal blocks 25 which may be located at the bottoni of the casing on the plate 12 or in any other convenient location. (fonnection may be made to a suitable supply circuit by means of le cables 26, the ends of which may be electrically connected to the ends 2l kby means of suitable bolts 27.

The device embodying my invention thus provides a relatively7 simple heating element which may be quickly mounted in, and dismounted from, its operative position in a refractory casing.

While l have illustrated a spccic embodiment of my invention, I desire that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by] the prior art or are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention l. In an electric furnace, in combination, a Crucible, a plurality of relatively thin refractory plates, of arcuate form in lateral cross section, having a plurality of relatively small, spaced, alined, integral projections on the outer surface thereof, a heat-insulating,r wall surrounding the side and bottom of said Crucible and an electric resistor op eratively engnlgilig,r the outer surface of said refractory platos and maintained in proper operative position relatively thereto by said integral }j).iojections co-operating with the inner` surface c side nils,

lin an elec ce, .in combination,

' enig, a. plnr :y elatively 'ractcry plates, of arcuate l'orin in lateral cross-section, each platehaving a plurality of relatively small spaced, alined, integral progectiens on the outer surface thereof and the said plates fitting within -said casing, and a resistor member located between said plates and said casing and op-' eratively engaging said plates at their outer surface only, the said portions thereof heing maintained in proper operative position relatively to each other by the alincd projections.

3. In an electric furnace, in combination, a tiltably-mounted refractory heat-insulating casing, a plurality of relatively thin refractory plates, of arcuate form in lateral cross-section, the said plates being located in abutting relation, and constituting,T a substantially annular inner lining for said refractory casing and each plate having a plurality of relatively small, spaced, integral, alined projections on the outer arcuate surface thereof, and a resistor havin returnbent portions located between sald plates and an inner surface of said casing, the portionsv of said resistor being maintained in proper ope ative position bythe alined progections.

4. In an electric furnace, in combination, a tiltably-mounted refractory heat-insulating easing having a substantially cylindrical chamber therein, a plurality of relatively thin refractory' plates of arcuate forni in lateral cross-section, located in abutting relation in and. constituting a substantially annular lining for said chamber, cach plate having?- a plurality of relatively small spacer, alined integral projections on the` r outer surface operatively engaging the oylindrical 1walls of the chamber and ay resistor member havinfr a plurality of return bent portions .located between said plates and said casing wall and terminal members mountedon said casing.

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto subscribed my name this 16th day of December, 1921.

' THOMAS A. REID. 

